Our prediction for this MLS match:
Houston will be looking to recover from a 1-0 loss to Austin FC when they face FC Dallas on Sunday morning. The Orange Crush did suffer the loss at the weekend, but their performance against los Verdes was anything but poor. Fit-again midfielder Hector Herrera is pushing for a recall to the starting XI, while all Daniel Steres, Sebastian Ferreira, Franco Escobar, Nelson Quinones are out of contention through injuries.
The Toros, on the other hand, aim to build on a 2-1 win over Austin FC. Dallas, though, are not regarded as good travellers, which is probably the main reason why we are going to bet on Houston, who have turned their Shell Energy Stadium into a real fortress. The visitors will be without Geovane Jesus, Korca, Lletget, Pomykal, and Velasco in Sunday’s encounter. In their last meeting in the Major League Soccer Dallas defeated Houston 2-0, meaning that the hosts are hungry for revenge.
Highlighted Player (Hector Herrera):
Mexico international Hector Herrera is a 26-year-old midfielder playing for Portugal giants FC Porto. Herrera began his career with Pachuca in 2010 and spent three years at the club before being sold to Porto. During his first season with the Dragons Herrera struggled for playing time, but he went on to cement his place in the starting eleven, becoming one of the most valuable players for the club.
Herrera has since them racked up over 110 performances for the Portugal side, scoring over 20 goals in the process. Full Mexico international since 2012, Hector Herrera represented his country at the 2014 World Cup.
During the summer of 2016 Herrera was heavily linked with a move away from Porto and was reported to have made a personal agreement with Italian side Napoli, but the €25 million asking price proved to be a stumbling block that ended up ruining the deal.
Highlighted Team (FC Dallas):
Despite making it to the 2010 MLS Cup final, Dallas eventually failed to win the domestic trophy. The Toros (Bulls) were beaten by Colorado in the final played at BMO Field in Toronto and you should bear in mind that the Rapids scored the winner in the extra time.
That was the first and only time Dallas participated in the MLS Cup final, but in 2016 the club won the Supporters’ Shield and the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The Toros play their home games at Toyota Stadium, the venue that was opened in August, 2005. The stadium’s original name was Pizza Hut Park, but in September 2013 it was renamed as Toyota Stadium after Pizza Hut Park left as a main sponsor.
FC Dallas wear red shits with white stripes when playing at home, while their secondary colors are white and blue. Former Ajax and River Plate ace Mauro Rosales, who joined the Toyota Stadium outfit in 2016, is regarded as one of the club most significant stars.